Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), a University of Victoria initiative and leader in ocean monitoring and data delivery, has been officially recognized as a Decade Implementing Partner of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO.
As an implementing partner, ONC will be participating in the 2025 UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), June 9 -13, in Nice, France to strengthen international collaboration efforts around sustainable ocean conservation.
The UN Ocean Decade provides a framework of 10 challenges that enable scientists and partners to deliver solutions towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
As one of Canada’s Major Research Facilities, ONC’s new role as a decade implementing partner over the next three years recognizes its contribution to advancing global ocean observing to support a healthier, more sustainable, and equitable future for our planet.
“ONC receiving this status as an implementing partner for the UN Ocean Decade is a significant milestone and reflects our commitment to open data, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative technologies that contribute to ocean sustainability and resilience, both in Canada and globally,” said ONC’s president and CEO Kate Moran.
Areas of impact
ONC is actively participating in a range of endorsed UN Ocean Decade initiatives that contribute to the overall framework, including leading two projects, partnering in 10 programmes and projects, and engaging in six other key actions. ONC will continue contributing to the majority of the 10 challenges over the coming years, but has been recognized for advancing three challenges in particular;
Challenge 7 - Sustainably expand the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS): ONC operates cutting-edge ocean observing systems on the Pacific, Arctic, and Atlantic coasts of Canada and the Southern Ocean which support global science, industry, and communities. ONC provides open access to real-time and archival data through its Oceans 3.0 data management system. ONC data are contributed to GOOS, through its work with the Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System. ONC also upholds Indigenous data sovereignty by explicitly recognizing data ownership and enabling partner coastal communities to control access to data collected in their coastal territories.
Challenge 8 - Create a digital representation of the ocean: ONC infrastructure provides a living, evolving computer model (digital twin) of the ocean that is continuously updated with real-time data from sensors and other sources. With standardized metadata and interoperable formats, the data management portal Oceans 3.0 enables global data sharing, integration, and analysis. ONC is also advancing equitable data stewardship guided by FAIR, TRUST, and CARE principles of data management, and exploring Local Contexts to support Indigenous data sovereignty and ethical data use.
Challenge 9 - Skills, knowledge, technology and participation for all: ONC actively supports principles that strengthen data credibility, accessibility, and integration within the global research ecosystem. It supports capacity development by developing and delivering training (both informal and accredited) for coastal Indigenous communities and early career ocean professionals. ONC recognizes the importance of Indigenous knowledge systems and the value of a two-eyed seeing approach to understand ocean change.
“On behalf of the entire Ocean Decade Team, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on the formalisation of your role in the Decade. Together, let us work towards the ocean we want,” said Vidar Helgesen, executive secretary of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and assistant director-general of UNESCO, in a letter to ONC.
ONC’s ocean infrastructure is also utilized to unlock ocean-based solutions to climate change (Challenge 5) by providing open and transparent monitoring, reporting, and verification services for ocean carbon removal research; and ONC is increasing community resilience to ocean and coastal risks (Challenge 6) through ocean-data services that include earthquake early warning, tectonic plate monitoring, and tsunami and flood risk inundation mapping. ONC’s youth programs provide opportunities for training the next generation of ocean stewards and advance ocean literacy initiatives for educators, students, and the public (Challenge 10). Collectively these efforts are helping shape data-driven policy and inform solutions to both national and global ocean challenges.
As a decade implementing partner, ONC will continue working closely with the Fisheries and Oceans Canada and help build a strong Canadian contribution to the UN Ocean Decade.
UN Ocean Conference
The theme of this third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) is “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean.”
The ONC delegates participating in the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice include Daniela Loock, director, engagement & knowledge mobilization, and Benoît Pirenne, corporate innovation and technology officer. Both are participating in respective panel discussions on strengthening policy frameworks and regional data sharing models.
ONC is also currently attending the One Ocean Science Congress in the runup to UNOC3. This event will provide decision makers and the public with insights into the ocean’s health and future trajectory.
ONC’s Pieter Romer, Indigenous community liaison and Maia Hoeberechts, associate director, learning and community engagement, are presenting on advancing Indigenous involvement in ocean monitoring through meaningful engagement and partnerships. The team is also supporting a poster highlighting ONC’s involvement in OneDeepOcean, a UN Ocean Decade program to advance deep ocean monitoring, research, and collaboration.
This premier conference on ocean issues offers a valuable opportunity for ONC to connect with partners, explore new opportunities for UN Ocean Decade involvement, and highlight the achievements of ONC's initiatives and contributions to ocean knowledge.
